C'est la Vie (Henri Dikongué album)
| C'est la Vie | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Label | Tinder[1] | |||
| Producer | Gilles Fruchaux | |||
| Henri Dikongué chronology | ||||
| ||||
C'est la Vie is an album by the Cameroonian musician Henri Dikongué.[2][3] It was released in 1997.[4]
The album was dedicated to Fela Kuti and Robert Mitchum.[2] It was a success on European world music charts, and sold more than 9,000 copies in its first month of release.[5][6] Dikongué promoted it by touring North America.[7]
Production[edit]
The album was produced by Gilles Fruchaux.[8] The title track was sung in French; Dikongué wrote all of the album's songs, and also played classical guitar.[4][9][10] Dikongué was influenced by the sound of bossa nova.[11]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[13] |
| Los Angeles Times | [5] |
| MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide | [8] |
JazzTimes noted that "Dikongue's musical turf isn’t the dance-driven world of intensely rhythmic West African styles, but a softer melange, grounded in elements of Brazilian influences and a general emphasis on acoustic instruments."[14] Robert Christgau wrote that Dikongué is "what happens when Afropop becomes world music—when it targets broad-minded European connoisseurs rather than rhythm-schooled African sophisticates."[13] The Indianapolis Star opined that Dikongué "has a most gorgeous, lilting folk sound."[15]
The Washington Post stated that "Dikongue's distinctive style melds classical guitar, Latin-jazz balladry and French chansons."[16] The Orange County Register praised Dikongué's "sweetly suave style," writing that he "crafts low-key, folk- and jazz-infused Afro-pop."[17]
AllMusic wrote: "Offering an interesting alternative to zouk and makossa, Cameroon's Henri Dikongue favors an introspective, sensitive and ballad-heavy approach on C'est la Vie."[12]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ndutu" | |
| 2. | "Ndol'asu" | |
| 3. | "C'est la Vie" | |
| 4. | "Na Tem Ité Idiba" | |
| 5. | "Na Teleye Owa Ngea" | |
| 6. | "We Nde Mba" | |
| 7. | "Bulu Bo Windi Tenge" | |
| 8. | "Françoise" | |
| 9. | "A Mumi" | |
| 10. | "Wen Te Mba Wenge" | |
| 11. | "Douala" |
References[edit]
- ^ "New World '98". CMJ New Music Report. Vol. 57, no. 601. Jan 11, 1999. p. 22.
- ^ a b "Henri Dikongué Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ St. Leger, Marie Elsie (Jul 1998). "C'est la Vie". Audio. Vol. 82, no. 7. p. 72.
- ^ a b Winders, J. (June 5, 2007). Paris Africain: Rhythms of the African Diaspora. Springer.
- ^ a b Heckman, Don (28 Mar 1998). "Album Reviews". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 8.
- ^ poet, j (June 21, 1998). "Dikongue Goes Global". Sunday Datebook. San Francisco Chronicle. p. 43.
- ^ Doyle, Alan (October 8, 1998). "Melody Returns to African Pop Music". Contra Costa Times. p. D2.
- ^ a b MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 220.
- ^ Chapman, Geoff (25 July 1998). "Henri Dikongue C'est la Vie". Entertainment. Toronto Star. p. 1.
- ^ "Henri's a new sound out of Africa". The Mercury. July 17, 1998. p. 32.
- ^ "Tinder". Rolling Stone. No. 802/803. Dec 24, 1998. p. SS28.
- ^ a b "C'est la Vie". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "Henri Dikongué". Robert Christgau.
- ^ Woodard, Josef. "Henri Dikongue: C'est La Vie". JazzTimes.
- ^ Allan, Marc D. (26 Sep 1998). "Festival offers wonderful, worldly mix". The Indianapolis Star. p. B5.
- ^ "Popular Music". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ Darling, Cary (March 6, 1998). "Crossing cultures: harmony and clash". Orange County Register. p. F49.
